friday night mini-review “where to and why there?” new testament pattern of a vital church–...

Friday Night Mini-ReviewFriday Night Mini-Review“Where To and Why There?”“Where To and Why There?”

New Testament pattern of New Testament pattern of a vital church–a vital church–order order is is importantimportant

Stay focused Stay focused on God’s on God’s

gracegrace

Build deep Build deep

loving loving

communitycommunity

Represent Represent

Jesus well Jesus well

in societyin society

Rom. 1-11 Rom. 12 Rom. 13

Eph. 1-3 Eph. 4 Eph. 5,6

Col. 1-3:4 Col.3:5-16 Col.3:17 ff

Close Spiritual Relationships – Close Spiritual Relationships – Why?Why?

New Testament pattern of New Testament pattern of a vital church–a vital church–order order is is importantimportantStay Stay

focused on focused on God’s graceGod’s grace

Build deep Build deep

loving loving

CommunityCommunity

through through

Close Spiritual Close Spiritual

FriendshipsFriendships

Represent Represent

Jesus well Jesus well

in societyin society

Close Spiritual Friendships – Why?Close Spiritual Friendships – Why?

Biblical PatternBiblical Pattern

Jesus’ new commandment-Jn. Jesus’ new commandment-Jn. 13:3413:34


Phil. 1:8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

1 Thess 2:8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Close Spiritual Friendships – Close Spiritual Friendships – Why?Why?

Formidable ObstaclesFormidable Obstacles• Building these is a skill/art – not

easily or quickly learned.



easily or quickly learned.• Our culture does not value these

and makes it more difficult to build them.



easily or quickly learned.• Our culture does not value these

and makes it more difficult to build them.

• We have personal problems that inhibit our desire to &/or ability to build close friendships.


Why they are worth itWhy they are worth it1. Close spiritual friendships are

literally the most important issue in reality.



literally the most important issue in reality.• Because other-centered love

relationships is the essence of who God (Ultimate Reality) is.





• Because this is the essence of who you are.






John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.






John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Until the foundational priority of your life is to make a love relationship with God & other Christian friends, you are denying your own humanity!





• ...the essence of who you are.• Because this is the essence of what

heaven will be like (Is. 25:6-9; Rev. 19:9)


Why they are worth itWhy they are worth it2. You will experience the fullness of

Jesus’ love & the joy that comes from Him ONLY in the context of close spiritual friendships.


Why they are worth itWhy they are worth itJn 15:Jn 15:99 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have

also loved you; abide in My love.also loved you; abide in My love. 1010 “If you “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.commandments and abide in His love. 11 11

“These things I have spoken to you so that “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and My joy may be in you, and that that your joy may your joy may be made full.be made full. 1212 “This is My commandment, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved that you love one another, just as I have loved you. you.


Why they are worth itWhy they are worth it2. You will experience the fullness of

Jesus’ love & the joy that comes from Him ONLY in the context of close spiritual friendships.


Why they are worth itWhy they are worth it3. Close spiritual friendships are at the

heart of what attracts people to Jesus. (Jn 13:34,35)

Jn 17:Jn 17:2121 that they may all be one; even as You, that they may all be one; even as You, Father, Father, are are in Me and I in You, that they also in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. that You sent Me. 2323 I in them and You in Me, I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.them, even as You have loved Me.





“The church that convinces people that there is a God, is a church that manifests what only a God can do, that is, to unite human beings in love . . . There is nothing that convinces people that God exists or that awakens their craving for him like the discovery of Christian brothers and sisters who love one another . . .





“... The sight of loving unity among Christians arrests the non-Christian. It crashes through his intellect, stirs up his conscience and creates a tumult of longing in his heart because he was created to enjoy the very thing that you are demonstrating.” John White “the Fight” pp 149,150.



essential in order to be effective in your other social roles.


Questions?Questions?Comments?Comments?

friday night mini-review “where to and why there?” new testament pattern of a vital church–...

Documents

close friendships

god ultimate reality

important issue

centered love relationships

gospel of god

formidable obstaclesbuilding

consolation of love

affection of christ